By: Some significant dates involving Conrad Black, one-time head of the former Hollinger International Inc. newspaper empire, who was convicted of illegally pocketing money that should have gone to stockholders:
_1966: Montreal-born Black, the son of a wealthy brewing executive, buys his first newspaper, the Eastern Townships Advertiser in Quebec.
_1971: Establishes the Sterling chain of newspapers in western Canada with business partner David Radler.
_1976: Inherits large stake in the Black family founded Ravelston Corp.
_1985: Acquires control of The Daily Telegraph of London.
_1993: Hollinger International, the newspaper publishing subsidiary of holding company Hollinger Inc., acquires the Chicago Sun-Times.
_Oct. 30, 2001: Takes seat in British House of Lords as Lord Black of Crossharbour after giving up his Canadian citizenship for the honor.
_May 22, 2003: Agrees to surrender much of his control over Hollinger International at the company's annual meeting to try to placate angry shareholders.
_Nov. 17, 2003: Steps down as CEO of Hollinger International after an internal review says $32.15 million in payments received by Black and three other company executives were unauthorized.
_Jan. 17, 2004: Hollinger International removes Black as chairman and sues him and David Radler to recover more than $200 million the company claimed was improperly diverted.
_Nov. 2, 2004: Resigns as chairman and CEO of Hollinger Inc.
_Nov. 15, 2004: Securities and Exchange Commission files civil fraud lawsuit against Black and Radler, accusing them of improperly diverting tens of millions of dollars from Hollinger International.
_Aug. 18, 2005: Radler and former Hollinger International lawyer Mark Kipnis indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly diverting $32 million through bogus non-compete fees.
_Sept. 20, 2005: Radler pleads guilty.
_Nov. 17, 2005: Black charged in federal fraud indictment along with Jack Boultbee, former Hollinger chief financial officer; Peter Atkinson, former Hollinger vice president and general counsel; Kipnis, who was re-indicted; and Ravelston Corp., a Canadian company Black used to control Hollinger International. All plead not guilty.
_March 5, 2007: Ravelston Corp. pleads guilty to one count of mail fraud and agrees to pay fine of $7 million.
_March 20, 2007: Fraud and racketeering trial begins in court of U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve.
_July 13, 2007 ? Black convicted of three counts of mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice. Black's three co-defendants were all found guilty of three counts of mail fraud.
_Dec. 10, 2007 ? Black faces sentencing in federal court. He could spend more than 30 years behind bars.
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